‘Evil Dead’ Sequel In The Works: SXSW

Onstage following the SXSW world premiere of Sony and FilmDistrict’s Evil Dead remake, director and co-writer Fede Alvarez announced that work on a sequel is underway. “We already started writing Evil Dead 2“, he said during a post-screening Q&A session at Austin’s Paramount Theatre. Original Evil Dead crew Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Rob Tapert produced the remake and Campbell, in attendance, suggested that plans call for a trilogy. The April 5 release stars Jane Levy (Suburgatory), Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas (Cult), Lou Taylor Pucci, and Elizabeth Blackmore as a new quintet of youngsters who unleash evil from the Book of the Dead. Alvarez penned the horror update with Rodo Sayagues after their 2009 Spanish language short Panic Attack (Ataque de Pánico!) caught the attention of Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures. (Diablo Cody also earned a scripting credit.)

The hard-R horror is drenched in blood and gore and utilizes practical effects over CG, a decision producer Tapert admitted he resisted. “CG makes some things easier… [but] Fede fought for the right things”, he said. A strong reaction from the SXSW audience should bolster Sony’s expectations; Evil Dead was the hottest ticket on opening night and had the crowd hooting for every gory reveal. But Campbell put a damper on fans’ hope that he’ll have a significant role in any sequels: “I wasn’t in this for a really good reason, and I probably won’t be in the others for a really good reason… We wanted these to be completely separate. I hope one day you can go to a movie theater and watch the first three, and then the second three, and enjoy them all”.